When I imagine how things are going to be, I tend to be dramatic. Is that a nice way of saying I can be delusional? The pitfalls of homeschooling are plenty if you let them sidetrack you from your vision. Instead of losing vision, hone your goals.
For example, when I started homeschooling, I had visions of children eager to learn each day around our little public school desk. My house would be kept tidy every day. And laundry would never get more than a load or two behind. Supper would be on the table at 5:00 p.m. on the dot. Delusional I am telling you.
DELUSIONAL HOMESCHOOLING OR DELIBERATE HOMESCHOOLING
High levels of confidence, conviction, and fortitude wane easily and can be completely sucked out of us if we enter the what if . . . world of homeschooling.
Look at these potential 8 colossal pitfalls, if you let them.
What if
. . . I start to homeschool and my children get behind?
Guess what? They will. That is what catching up is about. Look at my article, Am I Doing Enough When Homeschooling.
. . . I choose not to test my children. Will I be doing them a disservice?
Look here at my tips about how to measure progress at my article, Narration – Telling Back or Testing? Books that Make Teaching Narration Easy Peazy.
. . . I’m not a creative person? I might be the most boring teacher.
You may, but you can change and learn too.
Look at how I did it at my article, Easy Hands on Homeschooling Ideas When You’re Not the Bomb Mom and 7 Homeschool Lies I Want to Tell My Younger Self.
. . . I can’t find friends for my children?
Unless you plan to homeschool your kids under a rock, there will be so much interaction over the course of your journey.
Look how we did it at my article, Socialization – A Homeschool Hallucination and I Am Homeschooling Because I Want My Kids Socialized.
. . . I decide that I want to put my child back in public school?
Before you do that, look at my tips at It’s a New Homeschool Year and My Child Wants to Go Back to Public School and Why My Homeschooled Kids Are Not Given the Choice to Go to Public School.
. . . my health or my children’s health prevent me from homeschooling?
Yes, that may happen. Look at how I dealt with in my article, Taking a Hit Doesn’t Mean to Quit– Homeschooling Through Crisis.
. . . while I’m pregnant I may not do my kids justice because I am too sick to teach them?
Hopefully, you put your health first if that time comes and realize that you’re teaching your kids way more than academics.
. . . I am not prepared for the upper grades?
All the preparing in the world won’t matter if you don’t have you teen’s heart. You can learn academics right alongside your teen. Focus on the relationship too.
And look at my articles in my blog category How to Homeschool Teens to Graduation.
COMBATING HOMESCHOOL PARALYSIS
We resist the urge to homeschool in the what if . . . world by applying these C tips.
Commitment.
Having practical teaching tips is important, however, that can be gleaned over any period of time.
Commitment is attached to an obligation. In some ways, I view my commitment to homeschooling like the marriage vow I made to my husband 23 years ago.
It is a guarantee that I will do everything in my power to make it work. Is a long term commitment for “just a year”?
View your homeschooling journey as a long term commitment.
Instead of bringing stress by applying pressure on your child to perform, start thinking of milestone markers. We plant certain milestone markers we want to reach for the long term.
Camaraderie.
Even though we can be consumed with the “nuts and bolts” of how to lesson plan, or how to teach writing, how to teach reading, or how to prepare a top notch high school transcript, it is the companionship of other homeschoolers that is the true glue that makes us stick to homeschooling.
In the camaraderie of our local homeschool support groups, summer homeschooling conventions, blogs and on line support groups, there is always somebody who understands our similar circumstances.
Conscientious.
Though many of us may live in states or countries where we do not need to test or keep attendance, our being attentive to our duties as parent and teacher keep us principled.
We do not adopt laxed attitudes about our house, our school, our worship, or our families. Again, we let go of the what if . . . world because our heart and conscience are stronger forces than any test score and they can motivate us to keep going.
My dramatic idealist person has not completely left, but my sons have done their work on many types of desks.
We eat meals close enough to 5:00 and there is always a load or two of laundry I could do.
The homeschooling what if . . . world is full of worry and guilt. Resist the urge along the way to re-enter it.
What counts in a journey is the ending!
Hugs and love ya,
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